Today's photos of a squirrel eating an apple in Tompkins Square Park

As part of the periodic Squirrels Being Adorable series, we present this squirrel's healthy choice today in Tompkins Square Park... photos by Steven...

Previously on EV Grieve:
• What other photos of squirrels eating things can we post?

• Meanwhile, a squirrel with a coconut drink this morning in Tompkins Square Park

• Today in photos of squirrels carb loading in Tompkins Square Park

Free COVID-19 testing coming to Haven Plaza next week

Local elected officials are helping bring free COVID-19 testing to Haven Plaza on 13th Street this coming week. 

No appointments are necessary on Wednesday (Feb. 24) or Thursday (Feb. 25) from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Find Haven Plaza at 726 E. 13th St. at Avenue C. The testing will take place in the Community Room.

Another smoking manhole on 12th Street

There were reports of another smoking manhole on 12th Street... the first reports came in before midnight here between First Avenue and Second Avenue (looks to be outside the Sirovich Center at No. 331) ... 

Per the resident who shared the top photo: "Went on for hours, was super loud." 

Citing Gothamist again about these winter-time incidents:

The phenomenon typically happens after a major winter storm, as de-icing salt seeps into the ground, corroding subterranean wires and unleashing gas, which in some cases sparks fires and blows the several-hundred-pound manholes straight into the sky.

Saturday's opening shot

Today's sunrise as seen along Avenue A at Tompkins Square Park...

Friday's parting shot

New temp signage at Veselka on Ninth Street at Second Avenue ... thanks to Steven for the photo...

The big 'Hurt'

 

It's just Feb. 19, yet some folks have said that the new record (Collapsed in Sunbeams) by UK-based singer-songwriter Arlo Parks will be one of the year's best. It's that good.

The video here is for a previously released single called "Hurt."

Indoor dining to expand to 35-percent capacity next week

Gov. Cuomo today announced that indoor dining will expand from 25 to 35 percent starting next Friday (Feb. 26!). The news comes one week after the return of indoor dining in NYC.

During today's press briefing, Cuomo said that COVID-19 data continue to improve, allowing New York to continue on a path toward reopening.

The rest of the New York state's restaurants, including on Long Island and in Westchester, are operating at 50 percent capacity. As the governor noted, the 35-percent capacity will be the same as New Jersey's current mandate. 

Cuomo originally ended indoor dining in the city in December after two-plus months ahead of an expected holiday-related spike in COVID-19 positivity rates. 

You can read more reaction/analysis via Gothamist and Eater.

Photo of Lavagna on Fifth Street last weekend by Stacie Joy.

Manhole watch on 12th Street

There was a report earlier this afternoon — via the Citizen app — of an exploding manhole on 12th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

Nothing appears to have actually exploded here outside No. 222... though we have a smoker... the FDNY is on the scene and keeping watch...

This kind of thing is to be expected these days TBH. As Gothamist has reported:

The phenomenon typically happens after a major winter storm, as de-icing salt seeps into the ground, corroding subterranean wires and unleashing gas, which in some cases sparks fires and blows the several-hundred-pound manholes straight into the sky.

Mid-morning snow photo break

As seen on 14th Street and First Avenue this morning exiting the L train... not sure what's going on ... and why members of the NYPD counterterrorism unit are here... 

Pic via William Klayer...

Planet Taco entering 2nd Avenue's orbit

Temp delivery signage is up for the new quick-serve taco concept coming to 141 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street ... say hello to Planet Taco... (thanks to Steven for the photos!)

We don't know anything about this operation at the moment. Hopefully, the tacos will be out of this world. (Sorry!)

As we noted last month, another taco shop was prepping to take over this space last leased by Otto's Tacos. 

Unfortunately, Otto's never reopend after the PAUSE in March 2020 ... and the space hit the market back in the fall. 

Meanwhile, Otto's has become a virtual brand ... now being sold via Mighty Quinn's Barbeque — just on the Upper East Side for now.

Reader report: Someone broke into our apartment while we were at home

An EVG reader shares the following...

We had a break-in at around 3 a.m. [Wednesday] night; guy stole two laptops ... But the worst thing was I heard him, and ran into the living room and saw him scrambling out the window, then ran into the bedroom shrieking like Jeannie Bueller and wound up face to face with him on our balcony. (I was inside and he was outside, fortunately.) We stared at each other, frozen for a moment, like cartoon characters, and then he climbed back down while I banged on the glass. 

Cops said there have been a ton of break-ins lately. Moral: Everybody make sure to lock all your doors and windows at night — even in this weather.

The reader added the following: "Back up your data every night if you can, and if you have a Mac, have 'Find My' enabled so you can de-authorize it immediately and erase it." 

The above photo is of a random EV building, and not the one that was broken into between First Avenue and Second Avenue on Wednesday night.

Noted

An EVG reader shares this Urban Etiquette Sign from a building on Ninth Street... which asks the occupant to please be considerate of other tenants (tennants!)... Why?

All of us can hear everything that happens in your apartment... 

Yes.... 

Everything ..... 

      (Literally ... everything)